Thursday, May 10, 2007

being bound that we might be free

Proverbs speaks of certainpractices that can confirm the soul/person/life in righteousness. These are things we are to do, no less and it matters not whether we feel like it. In fact we need to especially guard this truth and practice when we don't feel like it. Of course there's immediate forgiveness when we do falter. But we also need to practice immediately getting back on track of this confined path.

This can be a hard struggle. For some it is the avoidance of pornography, for others the avoidance of an affair, or of an addiction or whatever the besetting sin that we may be facing. For many it may be something seemingly less, but just as debilitating to one's walk in seeking to follow Christ, a big one being bitterness and unforgiveness. We must hang in through the struggle and keep working on it, even in the midst of all our weaknesses and failures along the way. We must not give up. Better to die in this struggle than to live in the sin.

As we keep working through this in Jesus and in fellowship with others in Jesus (for one can be in complete fellowship with Jesus only by being in complete fellowship with all members of his Body, I believe; we have a long way to go) we begin to experience the freedom Jesus talks to us about.

This freedom becomes surprising in many ways. One begins even now to experience the truth that what one gives up for the sake of Christ they get back and even more. And of course the vices that are only destructive of ourselves and others we don't want back. We want to hold others in Christ as God sees them, and in a relationship of love, grace and truth. And from that comes the joy and blessing of God, as he delights over us his children.

6 comments:

Man. If that is not the most influential statement I have read in a really long time. I am having to dwell on this for a while. Man. Deep. Wow. Powerful.

I am reminded of Hebrews 12.4, 'In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.' Or, as the NLT renders it, 'After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin.'

How often do I fail in this! God, have mercy on me a sinner!

Thank you so much Ted for your heart and obedience. May our God and Father make his face to shine upon you and grant you his peace.